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Surprised Ames, Wall ready for shot with Marlins

Surprised Ames, Wall ready for shot with Marlins

ST. LOUIS -- Between games of a doubleheader for Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday night, Steven Ames and Josh Wall received word they would be on the move.

Caught completely by surprise, the two right-handed relievers were informed they would be headed to the Marlins as part of the high-profile trade that sent Ricky Nolasco to the Dodgers.

Initial reaction?

"Shocked," Ames told MLB.com. "I've been with the Dodgers now for four years, but I'm really, really excited to be with the Marlins. I'm definitely happy."

Ames and Wall will be leaving Albquerque, but remaining in the Pacific Coast League. They will just be switching teams, heading to Miami's New Orleans Zephyrs affiliate.

Also included in the trade is right-handed starter Angel Sanchez, who will be joining Advanced Class A Jupiter.

The Marlins are continuing to stockpile pitching throughout their organization, and Ames and Wall will be finding opportunity for advancement. Both could get a shot at pitching in the big leagues after the All-Star break.

"It's a great opportunity to go to Triple-A in the next couple of days," Ames said. "It was definitely a big surprise. We were playing a doubleheader here in Albuquerque. When the first game was over, they told me and Josh Wall about the trade."

Now with the Marlins, Ames will know at least one Miami pitcher. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi was acquired from the Dodgers last July as part of the Hanley Ramirez trade.

"I know Nate really well," Ames said.

Ames relies on his 90-94 mph fastball, which will occasionally touch 95. He mixes in a slider and changeup.

"I try to keep it simple and go after guys," he said.

Like Marlins manager Mike Redmond, Ames attended Gonzaga. The 25-year-old was a 17th-round Draft pick in 2009 and he was added to the 40-man roster last November. He is 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA and eight saves in 30 games for Albuquerque this year.

"What an amazing opportunity Steven has coming to Florida," said Joshua Kusnick, Ames' South Florida-based agent. "He's good friends with Eovaldi and should be up with the big club sometime before September."

Wall, a 26-year-old right-handed reliever, was a second-round Draft pick in 2005. He had brief callups with the Dodgers in each of the past two seasons. He spent most of the two years at Triple-A, where he is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA and three saves in 25 appearances.

Sanchez, a 23-year-old right-handed starter, was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010. He was 2-7 with a 4.88 ERA in 14 starts at Class A Great Lakes and was recently promoted to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, where he has a 3.00 ERA in two appearances, with one start.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Wall and Ames, the Marlins transferred infielder Chris Valaika to the 60-day DL.